Tobacco-stemming machine.



l. P. SCOVILL.

TOBACCO STEMNIING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1908.

Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

j, P. SCUVILL.

TOBACCO STEMNIING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED IEB. 24. 1908.

4 SHEETS--SHFEI 3.

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@MW Q 1. P. SCOVILL.

TOBACCO sTEMMiNG MAcmNE.

l AFPLCATON FILED FEB. 24. |908. 1,153,962. lntentcdSept. 21, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UN WE1) STAF FATF FFIQF.

JAMES P. scoviLL, or WYOMING,

OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF .ONE-HALF TO C. H. FOSTER, OF TROY, NEW YORK.

ToBAcCo-sTEMMIivG MACHINE.

specification of Letters Patent.A Patntefi Sgpt 21, 1915l Application filed February 24, 1908. Serial No. 417,546.

facts in the handling of tobacco leaf which have led to the ldevelopments of the v'im-- provements. forming the subject-matter of this application. In the said former machine it was the'preferable, although not the essential, mode of procedure to stein the leaf by presenting the butt first to the strippingiiiechanism. In the present invention, I reverse this presentation while retaining much of the stem gripping and leaf strip-.- ping mechanism ofthe former machine.vv I

have found my present machine to be practically adapted to 'all grades and. conditions of tobacco, andableto meet all therequirements of every-day usage. The superior efciency of this machine is attribiitable tothe nove-l features constituting the subject-matter of this application, by means of which I insure an initial tear of -the leaf near the tip and upon each side of the stem,

k without danger of breaking the' stein and without removing the tip of the leaf from the custody of the gripping mechanism;

` after its initial tear I pass the leaf onto the stripping mechanisms which maybe, and preferably are. of the character described in my. saidprior application. Thus it will be seen that in v present method of stemming contemplates holding the tip of the leaf fir'nily in the grip of the carrier and presenting the tip portion of the leaf to a stem sensitive. character and delicate operation, adapted to safely and surely operate upon that tenderportion'of the 4leaf and stem,

imparting the initial tear against the grain without breaking the stein. the carrier thennresenting the leaf to stripping mechanism Since the 'said applica-A tion has. been filed. I have discovered certain.`

of harsher character, which will complete the vstemming by continuing the tear against the grain.A A The primary purpose of this invention is therefore to effectively clean the tip end of the' stem without breaking the tender stem,

and by a method adaptable to the multitudinous variations of leaf tobacco in condition `and character.

While I show preferred mechanical devices to take up the stripping action after this sensitive, initial, partial stripping, it is possible to devise a very wide range of strippers which could then be utilized to complete the'stripping, or it could even be done by hand.for the tender portion of the leaf having been stripped and the stem "preserved, a continued tearing strain against the grain will complete the operation.

These andother features of the invention will be more fully set forth in the description of the .accompanying drawings, forinling a part of this specification, in which:-

^ Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved tobacco stemminginachine. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the initial strippers. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the feed carriers. Fig. 4 is a side 4elevation .of the drivingmechani'siii Afor the initial strippers,lthe strippers `being-shown in section. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the de- ;flecting rolls. 'illustrating one of the toothed guard rol-ls Fig. G is an end elevation of the-niain stripping mechanism. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of thefinain strippers with their supporting frame partly in section. Fig. 8 is aside elevation of the pull rolls lwith vtheir supporting frame, shown partly in section. Fig. 9 is a section on line Fig. 1. Fig. 10 isv an' end elevation illustratingl the gearing of the main strippers. Fig. 11 is an end elevation ofthe cutters. F i'g 12 is a side elevation of the same. Fig-13 is a side elevation of the cari'iers, the strippers, initial andmain, being oinittedgbut indicated as to position. I f

It will facilitatea clear understanding of this invention to first take, as it were, a

locating and leaf tearing mechanism, of a fbirds-eyeview of the entire device, returning 'later for details. y

Looking at Fig. 1, lis the table upon which 'the'.machine rests. 2.is a leaf'feeder composedl of a number of spaced endless carfed along toward the machine proper until they are individuallyscaught up by the 'higher speeded ,saw wheel or pick-up 3,

various` strippers Vare" angularly disposed relative tothe travel of the carriers 4.

To strip at all, it is essential to preserve intact the stem. It should be understood that in practice the leaf arrives in all conditions of wetness and dryness, and that all varieties of leaf `Aare operated upon, and in every case, the stem, particularly at the tip, is infolded within the leaf at this point, also the leaf and stem are both tender. It is necessary to infallibly clean the Istem tip under all of these conditions by a mechanical device, adapted to impart an initial tear or cut f against the grain. This mechanism must be of such a character that while this delicate operation is proceeding, the stem will not be broken, but willbe retained in the grip of'the stem carrier, and if desired, passed on to strippers of a harsher organization which will readily complete the-operation if it has thus been properly started. A These initial stem nding leaf strippers are shown in y their preferred form in Fig. 2 in detail, and

in a plan view inFig. l. They consist, as shown, of two circular oppositely rotating disks 5, the peripheries of which are armed with pins 6, set far enough apart to permit of a safe passage of the stem between them. These pins are so set on the opposing disks that they do not impinge upon one another, and at their line of intersection they cannot either entirely block the passage of the stem or injure it in its passage. The disks are disposed at the forward end of the carrier and obliquely thereto, not for the purpose of makinga transverse cut across the web of the leaf, but to pierce the leaf at points on each side of the stem, so as to tear or strip parallel with the stem as the leaf is `drawn forward. Their rotation corresponds in general direction of feed, to that of -the stem gripping carriers respectively, so as to `terminating on .the conical ends 9, and leading away from the gripped portion of theY stem, in order to rapidlydeflectthe free end of the leaf from the line of action ofthe pins. It will be observed thatV 'the rotating tip end of the leaf is held between carriers` so that it cannot be stripped by thef'pins or first set of rolls. Thep pins perforate the tip Aend of the leaf without injuring the I stem, and impart an initial stripping action longitudinally of the stem and adjacent to the gripped portion of the tip'. This starts the stripping operationvat the fragile portion of the leaf toward the butt, and a Second set of rolls continue this stripping, clear to the butt, but leaving that portion of the tip,

which is gripped by the carrier unstripped.

Als I have already described in my said prior application, rolls provided with this character of spiral waypresent a continuous access to a stem drawn toward them axially.

This initial stripping mechanism operates as follows z-As already explained, lthe tip of the leaf is irmly gripped between the carriers 4, until it is drawn between, what.

I'have termed, the stem .finding -leaf strippers, which consist in detail of the pin disks 5. As these disks feed in unison with the stem carrier, they present a continuous access to this adjacent portion ofthe tobacco leaf, and the oppositely disposed pins coming together alternately impinge upon opposite sides of the leaf on either side of the stem and bring to bear a tearing strain which acts upon the leaf in opposition to the pull of the stem carrier, as well as in opposition to the natural grain of the leaf, soV that the leaf is thereby initially ruptured at this point, and a tearing or-strip ping action along the stem results, but without breaking the stem. By the time this sufficient initial stripping action has been given at the tip end ofthe leaf, the leaf- .has passed from between the eflicient poralways present a continuous access to theleaf, but they are preferably rotated at a lower rate vof speed, in order to create a degree of opposition to the passage of the leaf sufficient to result in a tearing strain against the grain. Adjacent to the rear edges of these disks 5 is a pair of rolls 7 provided with worms 8 running down and ,tions of the disk, and has been delivered into the open ends of the rolls 7, which rapidly deflectthe free end of the leaf from the pins. It is to be understood that these rolls are relatively high spe'eded, so as .to

vinsure the rapidcarrying away of-the leaf from the proximity of the pin disks, the

tip of the stem, of course. still being re-v ios tained in the grip of the carriers 4. The

rolls 7 a-re considerably spaced, so that they readily pass both the stem and leaf between them.v and lead them away from the pin wheels, but without any material strip'- ping action -being intended. The stem gripping carrier now draws the stem andjthe partially stripped leaf in between the main also prevents any bunching of the` leaf which tends to break the stem. These ribsrapidly and forciblyjeject stripped leaf portions, which have a natural tendency tofollow the .stem in its flight through. the roll ers. Adj acently above and Vbel-ow these main stripping roller-s 10 and 11 respectively, is a` second pair of rollers 13 and 14, whichfare virtually* giiaids. They preferably have a hi'glie-rfsurface speed than the stripping rollers, and they are so disposedy as to effectively' prevent the leaf from bef coming wrapped or ventwined4 between the gripping rolls. The upper stripping roll.A

and the upper guard roll have the same directioii of rotation, and the lowerfstripping roll `:and 'lower guard roll likewise have a similar direction Aof rotation. By these means the stem invariably continues its forward -iliglit whilethe stripped leaf is thrown backward and-discharged through an opening in the table located between the rollers Tand the stripping rollers.

15,' 16 represent a pair of pull rollers in rear of the .stripping guard rollers, which assist inpulling the stem, and in maintaining-the alinement. -.Tl iey are set atsuch an angle to the stripping rollers as vto cause their pull to substantially coincide with the pitch of the stem-way.

1n orderto maintain a most eiiicient hold upon the steniissuingfroni the rear endof the steni-way,therear ends of the pull rollers 'form an acute angle with the rear ends'of the stripping-rollers.' The shafts of said pull'rollsare laterally extended and driven from a point on the olf-side of the lar impingement of the pull and stripping rollers, the shafts of the latter rolls-being oppositely extended and areA driven from the other side o fI the Acarrier 4.

Preferably, the rollers. 10 and 13 are flex.-v

rangement and operation that any broken .over the sprocket wheels 37 and 39.

stems which 'may be contained in the original charge of-leaveswill-beforcibly repelled and not permitted to enterithe machine-or become mixed with. the "leaf.`produ ct. It is only necessary to carry the spirality ofthe i'olls 7, far enough to deliver the stem and leaf to position out 'of danger when they will Alie upon the reducedor stem portions 1'8 of the rolls in position to cooperate .with the .stripping mechanism beyoiid, and 4in whicl'i.position 'the rotative'influence-of thestems` of the rolle'rsis practically m'l. .The

rear fend's of these rollers T are provided withperi'pheral 'contacting ro'lls'. 1$),.20, mounted on their-comiiionshafts 18. By thisfmeans any lbrokenl stems contained in -the original package .and 'which wouldtbe crowded to-v` ward rollslQ, 20, by the'succeeding charge,

are positively vejected :at this point and not.4

permitted to enterthe stripping parts The last step consists in cutting-.Off the gripped tip offth'e leaf-from tliecleaned stem, which is performed by thev cutting mechanism 1.7,v (see Figs. l1 and 12) -to be later described in detail.

Having thus-".lroadly outlined the conits entirety, it will be necessary `tofdescribe the less important details and identify the `parts shown by the drawings.

-The feeding mechanism, as shown, consists of the following parts 21 represents .a pulley driving wheel (see FigsQl and 12.),

struction and operation of the machine in the rear sprocket drive for the carrier chains i '4. Shaft 22 carries the cutting disks 28, 29,

clamped together npon a separating blank 3 0, s0 as to form a peripheral groove between them, `into which `the 'stem is transversely crowded by the intermeshing sawtoothed cutter 31, this construction affording a shearing action which is entirely reliable in severing the stem. The cutter 31 is mounted on shaft 25.

32 represents a guide orbridge adjacent to the carrier 4 and the cutters, (see F ig. 11), which holds the stem'to this cutting action. The'upper sprocket chain 4 passes over a forward 'sprocket wheel33 on shaft 34, the lower sprocket chain passing over a wheel 35 on shaft 36, (see Figs. 1 and 13).

-Sprocket'wheels 26, 27, 32, 34, drive car riers 4. v

' The primary feeding carriers 2 are operated as follows: Shaft 36 has a series of sprocket wheels 37l fiXed thereon. 38 represents the forward shaft having sprocket wheels 38, 39, thereon. The chains 2 pass rlhe shaft 36 has a toothedvwheel 40 thereon having a higher surface speed than the chains 50, on shaft'51, (see Figs. 1 and 4). Gearv 2, and serving to space the stems in transcarriers 2 feed the leaf primarily to the machine- .For driving the first or -more sensitive stem tipcleaner,l I.provide the following mechanism On the end of shaft 36 is a 43, on sleeve-44, loose on shaft 34. 45represents a pulley wheel on sleeve 44 driving pulley wheel 46, on shaft 47, byfmeans of On the inner end 'of shaft 47 is a 50 drives gear 52on shaft 53. Shaft 53 carries-the upper pin disk 5 and shaft 51 carries the lowervpin disk.

For driving thepul-l rolls 15, 16, (seezFig'. 8)., roll 16, which `is preferably ribbed, is on shaft 54 having bearings in the frame 55 `and vdriven by belt wheel 56. Roll 15, which is preferably felt or rubber-faced is on shaft 57,having bearings -in frame 55. p

58 represents a gear wheel on shaft 54 driving gear wheel 59 on shaft 57.

- which -drives For driving rolls 7, stems 18 are .out-

wardly projected and have bearing in a' frame 60, (see Fig.'5). On the end of these stems are intermeshing gear wheels61, 62,

one of which is driven by pulley wheel 63.

For driving the main stemming rolls 10, 11, roll 10 has an outwardly extended shaft 65 carrying gear wheel 66, roll 11 has similar shaft 68 carrying intermeshing gear wheel v69. 1

70 represents driving pulley wheel on shaft 68.

Roll 13 has shaft 71, and roll 14 has similar shaft 72. These shafts have bearings in Gear Wheel 69 drives gear 74, which in turn drives gear on shaft 72. Gear wheel 66 drives gear 76, gear 77 on shaft 71, (see Fig. 10). y

78 represents a guard for the rear end of the upper carrier chain 4, (see Fig.' 11), this chain preferabl passes over the sheave 79, (see Figs. 1 andl3).v

- I have preferably interposed between the primary feeders -2 and the pin disks 5 a Vguide 80adjacent to the front endofthe lower carrier 4, which assists in delivering the leaves properly to the action of the disks v5. y

81 represents a pair of guides to assist in properly delivering the stem from the disks 5 into the open ends of the rolls 10, 11.

In order to give a proper gripping tension to the opposing'surfaces of the carriers 4, I

-preferably provide the mechanism shown in detail section, Fig. 9, and also in Figs. 1 and 13. It will be unnecessary te describe this in .particular detail, as it was disclosed in my said former application. It consists of an elongated tension blck82 supported .at each end by a spring actuated plunger 83, the lower lloop of the upper carrier 4 passing under and being influenced by the tension of this bearing block 82, which has a `kind of tilting spring defiection, the functions of which were described in my said former application. gear wheel 42 intermeshing with gear wheel It will be understood from this description that the driving mechanism operates the feeders 2, the disks 5, the ca'rriers4 and the pull rolls 15, 16, in a direction to feed the stems from the front to the rear of the machine, and the rollers 8, 10 and l1 are rotated in the direction opposed to the feed of the i stems. It is obvious that the provision for securing these' drives may be variously modilied without departing from the principles of the invention..

It will be observed that theworm or spiral rolls 8 are placed in front of and extend parallel with the stripping rolls 10, l1, and they have a useful function in this correlation independent of their coperative relationship to the pin wheels. As the carrier..

draws the leafY between rolls 10, l11, .the trailing or ungripped end has been caught vby rolls 8, and carried laterally away from the gripping belts, so that thestem is eX- tended, and held in this position for treat- Athereof, and the rollsl 8 feed laterally the free ends of the leaves at an appropriate Were it not speed, so that the leaves are presented for:

treatment longitudinally of their stems,

Having described my invention,.I claim 1 1. In a tobacco stemming machine, a stem gripping carrier, a stem finding and tip stripping mechanism consisting of rotating' pin points disposed obliquely relative to the carrier and rotating in the general direction of carrier travel to advance/the leaf and 'Y adapted to initially puncture and strip the leaf against the grain upon each side of the stem near the tip.

2. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine, a

tip gripping carrier, and mechanism disposed obliquely relative to the carrier rotating in the general direction of carrier travel but at a lower speed, and adapted to transiently interpose leaf puncturing and stripping points to the passage 'of the* gripped leaf upon opposite sides of the stem l -at the ungripped portion of the tip.

3. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine,

. the grain and delivered to Said' main strippers.

4L. I nA a tobacco leaf stemming machine comprising main strippers, a. tip gripping leaf carrier holding one end' of theleaf throughout the stripping, and mechanism disposed obliquely'l relative to the carrier andoperating upon one side of the carrier in the general direction of carrier travel to advance the leaf, but moving slower' to angularly interpose tearing points uponeach side of the tip of the stem during its pas` sage, whereby the leaf is initially stripped at its tip against the grain and delivered Vto said main strippers. j

5. In a tobacco stemming machine, a stem` gripping carrier, a relatively angularly disposed pair of v rotary members, having a plane of rotation obliquely disposed relative to the carrier having the same general direction of travel, and having tearing points adapted t0 Aoperate A, upon opposite sides of the stem and impartan initial strip of the leaf against the grain while the leaf is being 'advancedto other stripping instrumentalities. f-

6. In atobacco'stemming machine, a stem gripping carrier, a relatively angularly dis.- posed pair of rotary members, having a plane of rotation obliquely `.disposed relative to the carrier, and mechanism adapted to initially strip the leaf upon each side `of the stem, and means for rapidly deflecting the ungripped portion of the leaffrom the line of action of the said initial tearing devices. A r

7. In a tobacco stemming, machine, a stem gripping carrier, a pair of relatively angularly disposed rotary members having pecarrier travel and adapted to operate upon opposite sides of the stem adjacent to its gripped portion and strip against the grain while the stem is advanced by the' carrier, substantially as described.

9. In a tobacco stemming machine, a stem gripping carrier, an angularly disposed pair of pin disks disposed at one side of thefront end of the carrier and operating obliquely thereto, and a roll having formations adjacent to the pin wheelsadapted to rapidly deiect the ungripped portion of the leaf from the line of action of the disks.

10. In a tobacco stemming machine, a stem gripping carrier, an obliquely disposed vstem tip cleaning mechanismvhaving a ro tative operation in the general direction of and slower than the feed of the carrier, stripping mechanism for the other end of the leaf having a rotative operation fthe reverse of the'feed of the carrier and at a higher speed.

11; In a tobacco stemming machine, a-I

stem cleaning mechanism ope-rating near the tip, a main stripping mechanism operating on the medial portion ofthe stem toward the butt, and a carrier mechanism adapted to grip one end of the leaf and drag the stern sequentially through the said, stemming mechanisms, said stem cleaning mechanism operating in a general direction of travel of said carrier mechanism.

12. In a tobacco stemming machine, a stem gripping carrier, anangularly disposed lpair of stemming rolls, and means in front of said rolls for catching the free'ends of the leaves and leading them laterally away from the carrier. l y

13. In a tobacco stemming machine, a

. stem gripping carrier, an angularly disposed pair of stemming rolls, and a spiral roll in 'front of the stemming rolls for feeding the free ends of the leaves laterally away from stem gripping carrier, an angularly disposed leaf stemming instrumentality, and means in front thereof for feeding the rear or free ends of the leaves lateraly away from the carrier in a direction of movement appropriate to the progressive leaf treatment.

15. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine, a stem gripping carrier, an angularly disposed leaf stemming instrumentality, and a similarly disposed spiral rollin front of said instrumentality for carrying thev rear or free ends of the leaves in the direction of treatment.

1G. Ina tobacco leaf stemming machine,

a stem gripping carrier, an angularly dis-4 posed pair of leaf stemming rolls havin their inner ends adjacent said carrier an being formed with a spiral instrumentality extending in the direction of treatment, and a spiral roll in front of said treating rolls, the inner end being placed to catch the free or rear ends of the leaves and feed them laterally in the direction of treatment.

' 17. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine, In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set afgrilpping carrfierdfor the advancing ends my hand.

0 t e leaf, a ee ing instrumentality forl the rear or free ends of the leaves carrying l JAMES P' SCOVILL' 5A them laterally away from'theearrier, and Witnesses:

means fol1V stemming the leaf intermediate OLIVER B. KAISR,

the carrier and feeder. LEO J. ODONNELL. 

